The Open Road Travel

Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays in the U.S, celebrated by the majority of the country since the early 17th century.

However, when it comes to choosing the best places to stay in America at Thanksgiving, your decision will depend entirely on what type of celebration you plan to have.

Whether you want to explore the history of the celebration, enjoy some of the nation’s most iconic festivities, or even just spend time with your family and loved ones, there is a destination perfect for your needs.

So, sit back and relax, as we take you through some of the very best places to stay in America at Thanksgiving.

In our list of the best places to stay in America at Thanksgiving, I am going to suggest a few options. Each will be ideal for some of the most common desires people have when travelling at this time of year.

The Big Apple is one of the most famous cities in the world and a place that does everything big. It shouldn’t come as any surprise then that New York City is the best place to stay in America at thanksgiving for parades.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the largest parade on earth and has been running every year since 1924, making it the joint oldest Thanksgiving parade in the country, behind only the one held in Philadelphia.

Lasting for three hours, the parade starts at 9am and runs from the corner of West 77th Street and Central Park West, in the Upper West Side, to Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square.

A nationally televised event, the parade features attractions like marching bands, floats and giant balloons in the shape of popular characters, and performances by singers, musicians, actors, and the casts of Broadway shows, as well as surprise appearances by celebrities and special guests.

The attractions make the parade an event perfect for both adults and children alike. Aside from the parade, there are a number of other attractions in New York City that can be enjoyed around Thanksgiving too.

Immediately upon the completion of the parade, you can enjoy the famous Holiday Windows display at Macy’s, dressed to celebrate both the event and the festive season as a whole.

Then there is the incredible selection of award-winning restaurants located throughout New York City, where you can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal, cooked to perfection.

You also have the Bank Of America Winter Village in Bryant Park. With stalls selling food, drinks, and numerous festive products, as well as a free to use ice skating rink, this is an ideal place to merge your Thanksgiving festivities into the countdown to Christmas.

Fans of ice skating will also enjoy the iconic rinks that will now have opened in Central Park and at the Rockefeller Center.

For anyone who is planning to get into the Christmas spirit during their stay in New York, we also have some tips for you here detailing how you can do just that.

Stay In New York City If:

• You want to see the largest, and one of the oldest, Thanksgiving parades in the      United States
• You are a fan of ice skating
• You want to have a traditional Thanksgiving feast in an iconic restaurant
• You want to merge your Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations
  

The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park is a world-famous, 5-star hotel, located on the edge of Central Park in Midtown Manhattan. Both the private and communal areas are elegantly designed with beautiful architecture, light colours, wood furniture, and marble features.

Rooms boast home comforts like cable TV and bathrobes, while features like a sauna, state of the art fitness centre, and a full-service spa offering massages and facial treatments will ensure a supreme level of comfort and relaxation throughout your stay.

While the location of the hotel offers the upmost convenience, as it is surrounded by popular attractions, it is the views that really make it stand out.

Not only do select rooms have panoramic views out over Central Park but the hotel is also located right along the route of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This makes it perfect for anyone hoping to sit and watch the festivities while relaxing in the comfort of their own room.

Click here for our complete guide to the best areas to stay in New York City.

While there is some debate about the exact origins of Thanksgiving, most accept a feast held on the Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts, on the shore of Cape Cod, in 1621 as the very first thanksgiving.

This makes Plymouth the best place to stay in America at Thanksgiving for a traditional experience.

The Plimoth Plantation is now the site of an attraction known as the Plimoth Patuxet Museums. Opened in 1947, the Plimoth Patuxet Museums feature a faithful recreation of the original 17th century colony, with ongoing excavation still unearthing new information and relics to this day.

Based on first-hand accounts and records from the colony, you will see buildings rebuilt in their original style, along with articles, artifacts, and paintings from the period.

Staff wearing traditional attire will teach you the history of the plantation and regale you with the story of the first Thanksgiving, to truly immerse you in the spirit of your location.

While the history of the first Thanksgiving is the main draw of Plymouth at this time of year, it isn’t the only thing to do during the season. You also have a number of events known as America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade & Celebration.

The parade runs along the Plymouth waterfront, with floats, marching bands, military processions, and historic vehicles bringing the community together.

Numerous forms of entertainment are on offer, while guests are encouraged to donate foods to help those in need celebrate as well.

Another popular attraction is the Mayflower Illumination. A ship known as the Mayflower II, a faithful recreation of the vessel that transported some of the first pilgrims to America in 1620, is lit up in bright lights, offering an event that combines history, art, and entertainment.

Additional attractions of the celebration include a beer and wine garden, food trucks, a harvest market, children’s and Native American pavilions, a historic village, and a concert by the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra.

This all makes Plymouth a wonderful destination for anyone who wants to understand the true meaning of Thanksgiving and celebrate it in a laid-back environment with their nearest and dearest.

Stay In Plymouth If:

• You want to explore the history of the first Thanksgiving
• You want to spend Thanksgiving in a small town
• You want to see a historic parade
• You want to see a recreation on the historic Mayflower illuminated
  

Where better to stay on Thanksgiving than in an establishment named after the pilgrims themselves? Pilgrim Sands On Long Beach is a quiet, 4-star hotel, located on a private beach on the shore of Cape Cod, offering stunning views out over the water.

The location of Plimoth Plantation itself is within walking distance from the hotel, just 150 yards away. Now the site of the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, this makes it ideally situated for those who want to learn everything there is to know about the first Thanksgiving.

Each room is decorated with comfortable simplicity, boasting amenities like a flat screen satellite TV, Wi-Fi, and a private bathroom complete with a hairdryer and toiletries. Some rooms also feature a private balcony, where guests can enjoy the views of Cape Cod in peace and quiet.

Throughout the rest of the property, you will also find a shared lounge where snacks and refreshments are available, while meeting facilities are also offered, for those who need to do a little work while they are away.

When looking at the best place to stay in America at Thanksgiving for families, there are plenty of great options, but perhaps none offer quite as much as Chicago.

You have the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, a nationally televised, 3-hour event, where floats, giant balloons, marching bands, dancers, horse riders, sports teams, and celebrities travel through the city, entertaining crowds of young and old revellers alike.

The Light Up The Lake event at Navy Pier features a heated, indoor garden, boasting 600,000 fairy lights. With an ice rink, beer garden, children’s rides, a festive market, and numerous events and attractions aimed at families, it is a perfect place to embrace the holiday season.

The Walnut Room is a historic Chicago restaurant, where you can dine on traditional festive dishes, seated around their stunningly decorated tree. This provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy a family Thanksgiving dinner, with the added bonus of not having to wash up afterwards.

As with many cities, most of Chicago’s prominent Christmas attractions are also up at this time of year, allowing you to merge the two holidays into a wonderful festive experience.

From carolling and ice skating in Millennium Park to the German-style Christkindlmarket and Chicago Christmas Tree in Downtown Chicago, there are plenty of festive opportunities for people to enjoy with their family, whether you have children with you or not.

Stay In Chicago If:

• You are travelling with family or small children
• You want a traditional Thanksgiving dinner
• You want to explore a heated, illuminated, indoor garden with festive attractions
• You want to go carolling or ice skating
• Visiting a traditional German Christmas market sounds like fun
  

Staypineapple, An Iconic Hotel, The Loop is a beautiful, 4-star hotel, located in a historic building designed by renowned architect Daniel Burnham. Its décor boasts marble ceilings and mosaic floors, creating an air of elegance and sophistication, both inside and out.

Each of the stylishly decorated rooms features a blend of cooling whites and greys, plus amenities like air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and a flat screen TV, while the mahogany furniture blends the modern and historic sides of the property perfectly.

Throughout the hotel, facilities like a bar, restaurant, fitness centre, bike rental service, and on-site parking provide the height of convenience. The property is also pet friendly, so is ideal for those who like to travel with the four-legged members of their family as well.

Its location makes it perfect for exploring some of Chicago’s most famed attractions, while also being able to offer some of the most stunning views of the city.

This is particularly true on Thanksgiving morning, as the hotel is located along the route of the parade. This means you and your little ones can get a front row seat, from the comfort and warmth of your accommodation.

Click here for our complete guide to the best areas to stay in Chicago.

While many Native Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, there are plenty of others who skip the holiday, due to the negative history it has in relation to their people. As a result, the day after Thanksgiving was designated as National American Indian Heritage Day.

National American Indian Heritage Day was created to provide an opportunity for American Indians to celebrate their own culture, while also encouraging non-natives to learn a little more about the American Indian way of life as well.

While there are plenty of fabulous places to immerse yourself in Native American culture, there is nowhere in the country that provides a better opportunity than the National Museum Of The American Indian in Washington D.C.

This makes Washington D.C. the best place to stay in America at Thanksgiving for American Indians.

Located on the National Mall, The National Museum Of The American Indian is home to the largest collection of Native American artefacts, artwork, and records in the world. It houses more than 800,000 objects and 125,000 images, providing the most comprehensive experience you will find.

Designed in Kasota limestone to resemble natural rock formations, it spans 5 floors, covering 250,000 acres. In addition to its permanent and temporary exhibits, the museum also features a space dedicated to traditional Native American performances.

Beyond the attractions, the museum is also home to the Mitsitam Native Foods Café. With five different stations, you can enjoy meals of traditional Native American foods from five different regions around the country.

With most of the senior positions at the museum held by American Indians, it creates an experience that is as authentic as possible.

However, despite the brilliance of the museum, it isn’t the only attraction in Washington D.C. that offers a chance to experience some Native American culture.

You have the Dumbarton Bridge, the arches of which are lined with 56 busts of legendary Sioux leader Chief Kicking Bear.

Inside the Capitol building, you have murals, paintings, sculptures, and statues of Native leaders and members of congress, showing how important Native Americans truly are to the history and running of America.

Similarly, the National Native Americans Veteran Memorial has recently been erected in the National Mall to honour the Native Americans, Alaskans, and Hawaiians serving in the United States Military, as well as those who have given their lives for the country through the centuries.

If all of this isn’t enough, there are plenty of other places for you to explore without any visible memorials that have been important to Native Americans through the years.

Stay In Washington D.C. If:

• You want to see the largest collection of Native American history in the world
• You want to sample Native American foods
• You want to celebrate National American Indian Heritage Day
• You want to see monuments dedicated to historic Native American leaders
• You want to pay your respects to Native Americans who have given their life for the      country
  

The Willard InterContinental Washington is a historic, 4-star hotel, featuring grand architecture and décor, both inside and out. Situated right on the edge of Presidents Park, it offers stunning views out across one of the most iconic urban landscapes in the United States.

With the National Museum Of The American Indian just a short walk away and numerous other attractions within walking distance, it offers a convenient location for the duration of your stay.

Rooms at the Willard InterContinental are beautifully styled and come kitted out with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a coffee maker, flat screen TV, mini bar, stereo, and work desk, to ensure you remain comfortable and relaxed.

In the communal areas you will find features like a 24-hour lounge and sauna to relax in, or a well-equipped fitness centre for those who want to work up a sweat. There is also a great range of shops, which includes a florist, where you can pick up almost anything you need.

Dining facilities include a café and restaurant serving French cuisine and pastries, while the wine bar boasts and extensive menu for you to choose a drink to sip while you enjoy the beautiful views. There is even a concierge and limo service for those who really want to treat themselves.

Thanksgiving is a time when people take a look at their lives and really appreciate just how lucky they are. While everyone has their own ways and customs to celebrate the occasion, most will see it as a time for fun, family, feasting, and reflection.

This article will hopefully have provided you with everything you need to determine the best place to stay in America at Thanksgiving to celebrate in the way that you see fit.

All that’s left is to start making plans and getting things booked. That way, you don’t run the risk of your preferred hotels or attractions getting overbooked or family members making other plans.